Thanks to the journalist for gathering all the pieces we've been hearing about and laying them out for us to examine as a whole. It would be scary if I didn't trust the people of this country. Not that we can't make foolish choices, but that we are masters at self-correction. Our system of government provides the way out of our mistakes. I believe you will see a more united America going to the polls in 2008 determined to not make the same mistake and to get us back on course with ourselves and the rest of the world.

Let's see...regurgitate findings from a single source (a hatchet-job itself). Focus on the most "sinister" "arguments" and distort them even further, declaring that Cheney's "influence has been entirely malign." This is formulaic robo-writing from someone with advanced Bush Derangement Syndrome, and it should not be treated seriously. It's echo-chamber clatter, and if it wasn't in the New Yorker, it would be totally ignored. Similar "pieces" are on view in the letters section of any alt weekly, among other paragons of journalistic and literary output. If I were to attempt a parody of this Hertzbergian style, it would look a lot like this column. In fact, one could rather easily program a computer to spit out columns like this, ... More »

This summary of the Washington Post series is exceptionally well written, but not balanced. With the seriousness of the charges made, I would suggest reading the source material straight from the Washington Post.

Hertzberg further cements the belated realization that Mr. Cheney is truly malign, and dangerous. Sadly for America, Cheney seems to actually believe his office is not bound by the very Constitution he is sworn to protect.

A good article, after the oblique entry into the story from Broadway.

A chilling summation based on new evidence of Cheney's role as Dark lord of the White House. Contrary to David's opinion above, plenty of facts are given, in fact the whole thing is a review of newly-published evidence.

A good old fashioned hatchet job. Trashes Dick Cheney left, right and center. If the story contained any facts, I missed them, probably 'cause they were hidden under the mounds of opinion and snark. Author's dislike of Cheney is apparent, but he advances few to no arguments supporting his viewpoint, he assumes the reader already shares it.

An exceptional commoving summation of Cheney’s machinations of government. Using blunt phrases like “coldly manipulative of the callow, lazy, and ignorant President...contemptuous of public opinion; and dismissive not only of international law...but also of the very idea that the Constitution and laws of the United States can be construed to limit the power of the executive to take any action that can plausibly be classified as part of an endless, endlessly expandable 'war on terror', " the author gives reality to that which we have long suspected about who’s really in charge.

Chaney is doing exactly what he set out to do when he appointed himself VP prior to the 2000 campaign/elections. He has no allegiance to anyone other than himself, his neocon co-conspirtators, and corporate sponsors. He is able to behave as he does because he has no oversight and will continue to do what he is doing because he will have no oversight. The congress has displayed no real willingness to live up to their responsibility as a check on the executive; the supreme court is stacked; the federal bureaucracy is full of cronies and ideologs; the media has little credibility; the religious community has no moral strength; and the American people are more concerned about the next American idol than the future of their country to care.

This is not good journalism because it presents a partial truth, in the midst of a suffocating absence of any truth at all, and by tacit assumption builds the illusion that Cheney has created America's present difficulties virtually singlehandedly. This sets the stage for the cathartic removal of Cheney and Bush, with the subsequent installation of the next groomed set of sock-puppets delivered to the American public to "save the day". Meanwhile the destruction of Iraq is a done deal. And the American economy's starting to look like Russia's just before the Soviet Union went under. Where are the shadowy Perle, Feith, Wurmser, Abrams, and Wolfowitz in Hertzberg's dark scenario? Non-existent? Inconsequential? Off-stage.